Potato News from Europe

El Comité de patata de FEPEX reunido, ayer, en Madrid, analizó las previsiones de cultivo para la campaña de este año 2015, previendo una reducción media de la superficie cultivada en el conjunto de las regiones productoras del 20%.

The new Haith Multi-Wash System offers de-stoning-barrel washing and brush polishing all in one unit - and now also a split barrel, which allows the washing section to rotate in the opposite direction to the polishing rollers.

The family business Hof Trumann has installed a Halo for the sorting of unwashed, brushed potatoes. Since the installation of this equipment there was an increase in efficiency, turnover and quality of the end product.

AVEBE betaalt gemiddeld 71 euro per ton aardappelen over de oogst van 2014. Dit is inclusief de prestatiecomponenten voor zetmeelgehalte, kwaliteit, levertijdstip en geleverd volume.

Tong Peal Engineering, the UK’s longest established vegetable handling equipment manufacturer, is further expanding its international customer base, with not one, but two orders for large-scale stainless steel washing and processing equipment from Polish firm Polfarm.

Pizzoli S.p.A., Italy's largest operator in the potato sector and Bio-on S.p.A., the leader in eco-sustainable chemical technologies, will collaborate to build Italy's first PHAs bioplastic production plant using waste product from the potato agro-industrial process.

TOMRA Sorting Food will reveal the latest addition to its steam peeling portfolio at Anuga FoodTec, later this month. The Odyssey steam peeler is the ideal cost-effective steam peeling solution for seasonal processing companies and emerging markets.

Key Technology announces the appointment of H.J.K. (Eric) Geling to the position of Senior Director of Sales for the EMEIA Region. Geling is responsible for sales and channel development in Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa (EMEIA).

Tolsma-Grisnich recently acquired the rights for Samro clod and stone separators. The Swiss company has a long and successful history in this market. With this takeover, Tolsma-Grisnich is securing an important extension of their product range.

Investigadores del Instituto Max Planck desarrollan papas resistentes al escarabajo de la papa usando la tecnología de ARN de interferencia.

Scientists at the NEIKER-Tecnalia Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development have studied the genetic structure of Phytophthora infestans —responsible for potato blight—.

According to the Grocer, McCain Foods GB has introduced frozen mashed potato (650g) in the United Kingdom for its retail customers.

This season's potato processing operation at starch manufacturer AVEBE has reached its conclusion. The final potatoes for the 2014-2015 campaign have been delivered in Ter Apelkanaal.

Científicos del Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, NEIKER-Tecnalia han realizado el estudio de la estructura genética de Phytophthora infestans -causante del tizón tardío de la papa- y han identificado por primera vez en España la existencia del genotipo Blue13 (13_A2). El hallazgo es fruto de los resultados obtenidos en la tesis doctoral del ingeniero agrónomo Néstor Alor, presentada en la Universidad de Lleida y dirigida por el Dr. José Ignacio Ruiz de Galarreta.

An Ishida RV multihead weigher with an IP69K rating is providing the highest level of protection against humidity and water ingress in order to accurately weigh and pack large volumes of peeled and cooked whole potatoes at leading potato specialist Friweika.

In the potato processing industry, each year seems to have a trend - meaning there is a lot of attention on a particular machine or process. This year seems to be “the year of the steam peeler”.

Aldi’s reputation could be in tatties after a customer opened a packet of crisps bought in store and found nothing but a whole potato inside.

The Potato harvest in Norway in 2014 was large. The large surplus of potatoes for consumption now will be partly processed into starch.